Written by Council Historian Nancy Corry.
Postcards have played a charming and meaningful role from the earliest days of Girl Scouts. Just a decade after Juliette Gordon Low founded the organization in 1912, postcards captured the spirit of scouting. These small, illustrated messages served as keepsakes, a means of communication, and cultural snapshots—documenting everything from campfire songs to the Girl Scout Promise. Their evolution over the past century reflects not only the changes in American life but also the values of the Girl Scout movement.
First appearing in the early 1920s, they captured a way to share the Girl Scout experience. Early postcards often featured the Girl Scout trefoil symbol or the Girl Scout promise.
In 1922, a set of silhouette postcards was designed by Jessie Gillespie Willing. These silhouettes captured scenes of camp life and Girl Scout activities.
1924–1929: Another rare set depicted the four seasons, designed by Edith Ballinger, showing Girl Scouts in seasonal settings.
Humorous drawings of Girl Scouts hiding from rain, cooking over campfires, or enjoying camp life with charm and wit were popular from 1936 to 1973.
Collectors and historians cherish Vintage Girl Scout postcards. These postcards not only highlight the changing uniforms and styles of Girl Scouts over the decades but also preserve the spirit of camaraderie, outdoor adventure, and personal growth that defines the organization.
This is a 1940 Vintage Girl Scout postcard.
Throughout the years, Girl Scout postcards have featured a wide range of themes, including: The Girl Scout Promise and Law, Girl Scout activities, celebrations, and historic landmarks such as Savannah, Georgia. These themes reinforce the values of the organization and help girls feel connected to a larger community of scouts across the world.
Recent Girl Scout postcards from the 2020s include cheerful designs celebrating friendship, cookie sales, and troop activities, and are often available as digital downloads or printed cards.
Postcard from 1955, the 33rd Convention
Everyone loves getting mail. Take a minute to write a postcard to a Girl Scout you know and keep the spirit alive.
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